MoMu to Celebrate 40 Years of the Antwerp Six with Landmark Exhibition

MoMu will commemorate next year the four decades since the Antwerp Six burst onto the international scene. For the first time, a joint exhibition will bring together the works and legacy of these six designers who revolutionized fashion from Belgium: Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene and Marina Yee.

The project coincides with the anniversary of their historic presentation at the British Designer Show in London in 1986. There, after loading their collections into a van, they exhibited their proposals on a sparsely frequented floor. Even so, their creativity caught the attention of buyers such as Barneys New York, positioning Antwerp as an emerging fashion capital.

The exhibition will delve into each designer’s individual journey, from their student years at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp to their consolidation as key figures in contemporary design, including iconic pieces, youthful works and reflections on their current impact on global fashion.

MoMu will dedicate a historical exhibition to the legacy of the ‘Antwerp Six’

Despite their distinct styles, the six shared a disruptive will that transformed dress codes. The exhibition will revisit that collective force of focus that united them as a generation, while highlighting their unique contributions to aesthetics and the industry.

The curatorial direction will be led by Geert Bruloot, founder of the iconic Coccodrillo store and a first-hand witness to the group’s rise. They will be joined by MoMu’s in-house curators Kaat Debo, the museum’s director, and Romy Cockx. The museum has announced that more related activities and events will be detailed in the coming months.

The exhibition will be open from March 28th, 2026 to January 17th, 2027. In the words of Kaat Debo: “The Antwerp Six contributed to forging the recent history of fashion, we are extremely proud to be able to bring together the work of these six designers to offer a unique and profound insight into their legacy and influence.“